Serving Tray Assembly Having Transport &amp; Serving Configurations

ABSTRACT

A serving tray assembly includes a serving platter and a receptacle platter. The serving platter has a central aperture extending there through and a serving area defined between the central aperture and a perimeter thereof. The receptacle platter has a bottom and a peripheral wall extending from the bottom at a perimeter thereof. The serving platter and the receptacle platter are releasably coupled to one another.

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/464,399 filed Aug. 14, 2006, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference, and which '399 application is a nonprovisional of,and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to, U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/596,367 filed Sep. 19, 2005, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference and the disclosure of which isexplicitly set forth below.

II. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyrightprotection under the copyright laws of the United States and othercountries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimilereproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure,as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all othercopyright rights whatsoever are reserved.

III. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Trays for snacks and appetizer-type foods are generally known. Suchtrays provide a place to display these foods for presentation and foreating. They also generally make it easier to transport these foods.Unfortunately, many trays do not have sealing lids that enable transportfrom one location to another, e.g., from a restaurant to a home.Therefore, when foods that are traditionally presented on a tray aretransported from one location to another, a container other than thetray is generally used for transport.

Another problem that exists, particularly for foods such as chickenwings that create their own waste, is finding a place to put the wasteprior to its being thrown away. In most cases, a trash receptacle is notlocated within easy reach of a table or other dining area, typicallybecause it is unsanitary or unsightly. As such, a diner is faced withthe problem of having a place to put the waste while the food creatingthe waste is being eaten. Generally, such waste is unappetizing and aneater would prefer to have the waste out of sight while continuing toeat. Presently available trays do not provide this capability.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes many aspects and features. In a firstaspect, a food tray assembly comprises a serving platter and areceptacle platter. The serving platter has a central aperture disposedthere through and a serving area defined between the central apertureand a perimeter of the serving platter. The receptacle platter has abottom and a peripheral wall extending from said bottom at a perimeterof the receptacle platter. The serving platter and receptacle platterare releasably coupled to one another.

In a feature of this aspect, the serving area of the serving platterincludes a plurality of radial channels. In accordance with this featureeach channel of the plurality of radial channels is adapted to acceptand retain more than one individual food item. With regard to thisfeature, the plurality of radial channels collectively cover the wholeof the serving area. With further regard to this feature, the servingarea preferably includes four, twelve, or fifteen radial channels.

In another feature of this aspect, the serving platter includes aplurality of drain openings disposed adjacent the perimeter thereof. Inan additional feature of this aspect, the serving platter furthercomprises a wall defining and forming the periphery of the centralaperture. In yet another feature, the central aperture is sized suchthat a container holding sauce for food disposed on the serving plattermay be supported therein.

In an additional feature, the bottom of the receptacle platter includesa central generally planar area. With regard to this feature, the bottomof the receptacle platter includes a plurality of indentationscircumferentially located between the central generally planar area andthe receptacle platter perimeter. It is preferred that the plurality ofindentations are generally triangular with a base of the triangleadjacent the receptacle platter perimeter. In a further feature, thebottom of the receptacle includes a central raised portion.

In another feature, the serving platter and receptacle platter arereleasably coupled at the serving platter perimeter and a rim of thereceptacle platter peripheral wall. In accordance with this feature,when the serving platter and the receptacle platter are coupled, thereceptacle platter is disposed below the serving platter. It ispreferred that the serving platter includes an underside and thereceptacle platter includes an interior side, whereby when thereceptacle platter is disposed below the serving platter, the undersideof the serving platter is disposed in opposing facing relation with theinterior side of the receptacle platter. With regard to another feature,when the serving platter and the receptacle platter are coupled, thereceptacle platter is disposed above the serving platter. It ispreferred that the serving platter includes a serving side and thereceptacle platter includes an interior side, whereby when thereceptacle platter is disposed above the serving platter, the servingside of the serving platter is disposed in opposing facing relation withthe interior side of the receptacle platter. It is further preferredthat when the serving platter and receptacle platter are coupled, thebottom of the receptacle platter is adjacent a peripheral wall of thecentral aperture of the serving platter.

In yet another feature, the serving platter includes a raised lipadjacent the perimeter thereof. In a further feature, the receptacleplatter includes a raised lip at a rim of the peripheral wall of thereceptacle platter. It is preferred that the raised lip of thereceptacle platter is configured to releasably couple in a friction fitwith a raised lip adjacent the perimeter of the serving platter.

In an additional feature, the serving platter includes a tab extendingfrom a perimeter thereof. In another feature, the receptacle platterincludes a tab extending from a rim of the peripheral wall. In a furtherfeature, the serving area of the serving platter slopes downwardly fromthe central aperture to the perimeter thereof.

In another aspect of the invention, a food tray assembly comprises aserving platter and a receptacle platter having a bottom and aperipheral wall extending from the bottom at a perimeter thereof. Thereceptacle platter may be releasably coupled to said serving platter intwo configurations: a serving configuration, wherein the receptacleplatter is disposed below the serving platter; and a transportconfiguration, wherein the receptacle platter is turned upside downrelative to the serving configuration and disposed over the servingplatter to provide a lid for the food tray assembly during transport.

In a feature of this aspect, the serving platter includes a raised lipadjacent a perimeter thereof. In another feature of this aspect, thereceptacle platter includes a raised lip at a rim of the peripheral wallthereof. It is preferred that the raised lip of the receptacle platteris configured to releasably couple in a friction fit with a raised lipadjacent the perimeter of the serving platter.

In an additional feature, the serving platter includes a plurality ofradial channels. In yet another feature, a serving area of the servingplatter slopes downwardly from a center of the serving plate to aperimeter thereof.

In an additional aspect of the invention, a method of disposing of foodwaste comprises providing a food tray assembly including a servingplatter having a central aperture disposed there through and having aserving area defined between the central aperture and a perimeterthereof, and a receptacle platter having a bottom and a peripheral wallextending from said bottom at a perimeter thereof. When the servingplatter and the receptacle platter are releasably coupled to one anotherat the perimeters thereof, respectively. The method further comprisesarranging, on the serving area of the serving platter, food that createsfood waste when eaten; and after eating the food, thereby creating thefood waste, placing the food waste in the central aperture of theserving platter, whereby the food waste is collected in the receptacleplatter.

In a feature of this aspect, the food is chicken wings and said foodwaste is bones from said chicken wings.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects and features of the presentinvention, it should be noted that the present invention furtherincludes the various possible combinations of such aspects and features.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects, features, embodiments, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionwith reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food tray assembly, shown in a servingconfiguration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the serving platter of the food trayassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the receptacle platter of the food trayassembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the food tray assembly of FIG. 1, shown in atransport configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a food tray assembly, shown in a servingconfiguration, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the serving platter of the food trayassembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the receptacle platter of the food trayassembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of a food tray assembly, shown ina transport configuration, in accordance with an alternative embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-sectional view the food tray assembly of FIG. 8,illustrating the receptacle platter and the serving platter beinguncoupled from one another;

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the food tray assembly of FIG.8, illustrating the receptacle platter being positioned below theserving platter;

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the food tray assembly of FIG.8, shown in a serving configuration;

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the food tray assembly of FIG.8, shown in a transport configuration, with an additional receptacleplatter in a transport orientation positioned there below;

FIG. 13 is a perspective fragmentary view of the serving platter of thefood tray assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 14 is a perspective fragmentary view of the food tray assembly ofFIG. 8;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a serving tray in accordance withanother preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a serving tray in accordance withanother preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 includes additional views of the embodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 includes a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 includes a perspective view of several nested pans and severalnested lids of the embodiment of FIG. 15, as well as a perspective viewof a lid removably attached to a pan to form the serving tray of theembodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 16;

FIG. 22 is includes perspective views of yet another preferredembodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 includes elevational views of the embodiment of FIG. 22; and

FIG. 24 includes perspective views corresponding to those views of FIG.22 of the embodiment of FIG. 22.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As a preliminary matter, it will readily be understood by one havingordinary skill in the relevant art (“Ordinary Artisan”) that the presentinvention has broad utility and application. Furthermore, any embodimentdiscussed and identified as being “preferred” is considered to be partof a best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention.Other embodiments also may be discussed for additional illustrativepurposes in providing a full and enabling disclosure of the presentinvention. Moreover, many embodiments, such as adaptations, variations,modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be implicitly disclosedby the embodiments described herein and fall within the scope of thepresent invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention is described herein in detailin relation to one or more embodiments, it is to be understood that thisdisclosure is illustrative and exemplary of the present invention, andis made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enablingdisclosure of the present invention. The detailed disclosure herein ofone or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, tolimit the scope of patent protection afforded the present invention,which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof.It is not intended that the scope of patent protection afforded thepresent invention be defined by reading into any claim a limitationfound herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself.

Thus, for example, any sequence(s) and/or temporal order of steps ofvarious processes or methods that are described herein are illustrativeand not restrictive. Accordingly, it should be understood that, althoughsteps of various processes or methods may be shown and described asbeing in a sequence or temporal order, the steps of any such processesor methods are not limited to being carried out in any particularsequence or order, absent an indication otherwise. Indeed, the steps insuch processes or methods generally may be carried out in variousdifferent sequences and orders while still falling within the scope ofthe present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope ofpatent protection afforded the present invention is to be defined by theappended claims rather than the description set forth herein.

Additionally, it is important to note that each term used herein refersto that which the Ordinary Artisan would understand such term to meanbased on the contextual use of such term herein. To the extent that themeaning of a term used herein—as understood by the Ordinary Artisanbased on the contextual use of such term—differs in any way from anyparticular dictionary definition of such term, it is intended that themeaning of the term as understood by the Ordinary Artisan shouldprevail.

Furthermore, it is important to note that, as used herein, “a” and “an”each generally denotes “at least one,” but does not exclude a pluralityunless the contextual use dictates otherwise. Thus, reference to “apicnic basket having an apple” describes “a picnic basket having atleast one apple” as well as “a picnic basket having apples.” Incontrast, reference to “a picnic basket having a single apple” describes“a picnic basket having only one apple.”

When used herein to join a list of items, “or” denotes “at least one ofthe items,” but does not exclude a plurality of items of the list. Thus,reference to “a picnic basket having cheese or crackers” describes “apicnic basket having cheese without crackers”, “a picnic basket havingcrackers without cheese”, and “a picnic basket having both cheese andcrackers.” Finally, when used herein to join a list of items, “and”denotes “all of the items of the list.” Thus, reference to “a picnicbasket having cheese and crackers” describes “a picnic basket havingcheese, wherein the picnic basket further has crackers,” as well asdescribes “a picnic basket having crackers, wherein the picnic basketfurther has cheese.”

Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the presentinvention are next described. The following description of the preferredembodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended tolimit the invention, its application, or uses.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food tray assembly 10, shown in aserving configuration, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. The food tray assembly 10 includes a serving platter12 and a receptacle platter 14 that may be releasably coupled to eachother in a plurality of ways, as described herein below, depending onthe configuration in which the food tray assembly 10 is to be used. Forexample, when in the serving configuration shown in FIG. 1, the servingplatter 12 is coupled to the top of the receptacle platter 14.

The food tray assembly 10 may be used to serve and transport food items,particularly appetizer-type food items that create their own waste,naturally or otherwise. An example of such a food item is chicken wings.Additional food items may include tail-on shrimp or food items for whichtoothpicks are to be utilized as an assembly tool or utensil, such asmeatballs. Many times such food items are served with a dipping sauce ofsome sort. As shown in FIG. 1, a container 36 for dipping sauce may becarried on the serving platter 12 for serving convenience.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the serving platter 12 of the food trayassembly 10 of FIG. 1. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the servingplatter 12 in at least one preferred embodiment is circular and has acentral aperture 16 penetrating there through and surrounded by aperipheral wall 22. In at least one preferred commercial embodiment, thecentral aperture 16 is approximately two and one half inches indiameter. As shown in FIG. 1, the serving tray assembly 10 optionallymay include the container 36 for dipping sauce, and the container 36 maybe sized to conveniently fit within the central aperture 16 of theserving platter 12.

The serving platter 12 also has a serving area 18 defined between theperipheral wall 22 of the central aperture 16 and the perimeter 20 ofthe serving platter 12. The serving area includes a plurality of radialchannels 38. The serving platter 12 further includes a lip 40 having araised portion 42 disposed at the perimeter 20 of the serving platter 12and a separation tab 44 disposed at a location adjacent the lip 40. Itis preferred that the radial channels 38 encompass the entire servingarea 18. The radial channels 38 start at the peripheral wall 22 of thecentral aperture 16 and terminate at the raised portion 42 of the lip 40of the serving platter 12. Each of the radial channels 38 slopesdownwardly from the central aperture 16. Accordingly, the channels 38are shallowest at their starting points and are deepest at theirtermination points. In at least one preferred commercial embodiment,each channel 38 is approximately one inch across at its starting pointand two inches across at its termination point.

Each channel 38 is adapted to accept and retain one or more individualfood items, for example, one or more chicken wings. Because many fooditems are traditionally sold in relatively standard amounts, the numberof radial channels 38 in the serving area 18 preferably corresponds tothe number of items being sold. For example, for a food tray assembly 10intended for use with chicken wings, which are often sold by the dozen,the serving platter 12 preferably includes twelve radial channels 38,thereby accommodating a dozen chicken wings. Moreover, in at least onepreferred commercial embodiment, illustrated herein, the serving platter12 includes fifteen radial channels 38. In the exemplary embodimentwherein chicken wings are served on the serving platter, having fifteenradial channels enables the serving platter 12 to hold a dozen chickenwings as well as the traditional accoutrements of celery and carrots inthe additional three channels. In an alternative embodiment (not shown),the serving platter preferably includes four radial channels. Further,in an embodiment wherein each radial channel 38 may hold more than onefood item, e.g., chicken wings, a serving platter 12 with a dozenchannels may hold more than a dozen chicken wings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the receptacle platter 14 of the trayassembly 10 of FIG. 1, shown removed from the bottom of the servingplatter 12. The receptacle platter 14 has a bottom 24 and a peripheralwall 26 extending from said bottom 24 at a perimeter 28 thereof. Thebottom 24 of the receptacle platter 14 includes a generally planarcentral area 46 and a plurality of indentations 48 circumferentiallylocated adjacent the perimeter 28 of the bottom 24. Preferably, theplurality of indentations 48 are generally triangular in shape, withrounded edges, and with a base of the triangle adjacent the perimeter 28of the bottom 24. The receptacle platter 14 further includes a lip 50having a raised portion 52 (shown in FIG. 1) at a rim 54 of thereceptacle platter peripheral wall 26. In addition, the receptacleplatter 14 includes a separation tab 56 disposed at a location adjacentthe receptacle platter lip 50.

The bottom 24 of the receptacle platter 14 may be dome shaped such thatany waste received therein will move toward the perimeter 28 of thebottom 24 rather than piling in the central area 46. Distribution ofwaste toward the perimeter 28 will tend to avoid any piling of waste inthe central area 46. Further, such distribution will tend to evenlybalance the weight of the serving platter 12 when the food tray assembly10 is carried after use.

As stated previously, the food tray assembly 10 is shown in a servingconfiguration in FIG. 1. This configuration is defined by the receptacleplatter 14 being disposed below the serving platter 12 relative to asurface, such as a table or counter, on which the food tray assembly 10may be placed. In this configuration, an underside 30 of the servingplatter 12 is in opposing facing relation with an interior bottomsurface 32 of the receptacle platter 14. In the serving configuration, avoid space 34 is present between the underside 30 of the serving platter12 and the interior bottom surface 32 of the receptacle platter 14.

However, during transport of the food tray assembly 10 from one locationto another, the food tray assembly 10 may be configured differently. Inthis regard, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the food tray assembly 10in a transport configuration as opposed to the serving configurationthereof as shown in FIG. 1. In the transport configuration, thereceptacle platter 14 is flipped upside down and placed over the servingplatter 12 relative to the surface on which the food tray assembly 10 isplaced. In this configuration, the receptacle platter 14 becomes a lidfor the serving platter 12, such that food items disposed on the servingplatter 12 are covered and protected from the environment and from beingspilled during transport. In at least one preferred commercialembodiment, the receptacle platter 14 is fabricated of a translucent ortransparent material so that food items disposed on the serving platter12 may be viewed through the receptacle platter 14 during transport.

In another feature of the present invention, the indentations 48 in thebottom of the receptacle platter 14 provide a stabilizing structure whenmultiple tray assemblies 10 are stacked for transport. When two or morefood tray assemblies 10 are placed into their transport configurationand stacked on top of each other, the indentations 48 of the receptacleplatter 14 of the lower tray assembly 10 engage the underside 30 of theserving platter 12 of the upper tray assembly 10, and more specifically,the underside of the radial channels 38 of the serving platter 12. Assuch, carrying multiple tray assemblies in the transport configurationis more stable than if the receptacle platter 14 did not includeindentations 48.

In view of the foregoing, the serving platter 12 and receptacle platter14 may thus be releasably coupled together in more than oneconfiguration. In particular, such couplings may be facilitated asfollows. To achieve the serving configuration, the raised portion 42 ofthe lip 40 of the serving platter 12 may be releasably coupled with theraised portion 52 of the lip 50 of the receptacle platter 14, as shownin FIG. 1. The two raised portions 42,52 are configured to releasablycouple to one another with a friction fit. The separation tabs 44,56 onthe respective components aid in separating said components from oneanother. Further, the serving platter 12 and receptacle platter 14 arepreferably designed for nesting in similar serving platters andreceptacle platters with a preferred nesting allowance of about aquarter of an inch.

In use, the serving platter 12 is first loaded with the desired fooditems, e.g., chicken wings, typically in a kitchen or other foodpreparation area of a restaurant or the like, by placing the food itemsin the radial channels 38 thereof. If a container 36 holding dippingsauce is to be provided with the food items, it may be placed in thecentral aperture 16. The receptacle platter 14 is then inverted andcoupled on top of the serving platter 12 as described previously so thatthe tray assembly 10 may be transported to the dining area, which may bea table in a restaurant, a consumer's own kitchen at home, or any otherlocation at which food may be consumed. Because the receptacle platter14 is preferably translucent or transparent, a user will be able to seethe food items located on the serving platter 12 during transport. Thisis particularly advantageous in the food service industry for thesituation wherein users are take-out customers. The customer will beable to view his order to make sure that it is accurate without havingthe remove the receptacle platter 14.

At the dining area, the tray assembly 10 may be prepared for use asfollows. First, the receptacle platter 14 may be removed by awaitperson, a diner, or the like. After removal, the receptacle platter14 is turned over and coupled beneath the serving platter 12 asdescribed previously. If a container 36 holding dipping sauce has beenplaced in the central aperture 16, it may be removed prior to eating thefood items on the serving platter 12. After the food is eaten, foodwaste created by the food item, e.g., chicken wing bones, may bediscarded by dropping the waste through the central aperture 16 of theserving platter 12.

In the chicken wing example, this allows a user to eat chicken wingslocated on the serving platter 12 and easily and neatly discard thebones through the central aperture 16 of the serving platter 12. Thebones are collected in the receptacle platter 14, which is attached tothe serving platter 12. As such, the bones are neatly contained withinthe receptacle platter 14 while the chicken wings are being eaten. Whena user has finished eating the chicken wings, he is left with an eatingarea free of unsightly, messy bones. Further, the bones may be easilyremoved from the area by removing the entire tray assembly 10.

The bones may be disposed of in a waste receptacle in one of at leasttwo ways. If the food tray assembly 10 is of a durable, reusablevariety, the bones may be disposed of by decoupling the serving platter12 from the receptacle platter 14 and throwing the bones in a wastereceptacle. A person transferring the bones to the waste receptacle doesnot ever have to come into contact with the discarded bones. This isparticularly advantageous in situations wherein the person disposing ofthe bones is not the same person that ate the chicken wings. On theother hand, if the food tray assembly 10 is of a nondurable, disposablevariety, the entire assembly 10 may be disposed in the waste receptacle.

Of the two varieties, it is anticipated that the tray assembly 10 ofFIGS. 1-4 is preferably a disposable tray assembly. The serving platter12 and receptacle platter 14 may be fabricated from a variety ofthermoplastic materials. Examples include polypropylene, polystyrene andpolyethylene terephthalate (PET). They are preferably fabricated ofvacuum formed polypropylene. Vacuum forming lends itself to formingrelatively flexible components, and the components are well suited tobeing disposed of after a single use or limited number of uses.Alternatively, the serving platter 12 may be manufactured in a pulpmolding process or in some other inexpensive manufacturing process. Pulpmolding products are well known and include audio speaker cones and eggcartons. Pulp molding further enables low cost, three-dimensionalbranding as a result of the ability to selectively raise portions of thesurface during the pulp molding.

A disposable tray assembly may be preferred for take-out customers ofthe food service industry. With the tray assembly 10 of the presentinvention, a customer is able to order a food item that is typicallyserved in a restaurant on a serving platter and is able to eat theparticular food item as he would eat it in the restaurant, i.e., on aserving platter. In addition, the customer is able to enjoy the benefitof discarding waste in the tray assembly's receptacle platter and isthen able to dispose of the entire tray assembly after use.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a food tray assembly 100, shown in aserving configuration, in accordance with another preferred embodimentof the present invention. This tray assembly 100 is intended to be moredurable than the tray assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-4 and may be particularlysuitable for repeated use. Similarly to the food tray assembly 10 ofFIG. 1, the food tray assembly 100 includes a serving platter 112 and areceptacle platter 114. The serving platter 112 has a central aperture116 disposed there through, a serving area 118 defined between thecentral aperture 116 and a perimeter 120 of the serving platter 112. Thecentral aperture 116 is surrounded by a peripheral wall 122 extendingthere about. The receptacle platter 114 has a bottom 124 and aperipheral wall 126 extending from said bottom 124 at a perimeter 128thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the food tray assembly 100 is in a servingconfiguration, with the receptacle platter 114 being releasably coupledbeneath the serving platter 112.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the serving platter 112 of the trayassembly 100 of FIG. 5. Similar to the serving platter 12 of FIG. 2, theserving platter 112 includes a plurality of radial channels 130 in theserving area 118 thereof. However, unlike the serving platter 12 of FIG.2, this serving platter 112 includes a peripheral wall 132 disposed atthe perimeter 120 of the serving platter 112 wherein the peripheral wall132 provides an area for indicia to be placed, e.g., advertisingindicia. A lip 134 is disposed at a lower rim 136 of the peripheral wall132. The lip 134 facilitates releasable coupling with the receptacleplatter 114. The lip 134 includes a separation tab 138.

The serving platter 112 further includes a respective drain opening 140disposed at a base 142 of each radial channel 130 adjacent theperipheral wall 132. The drain openings 140 provide a means for anyexcess sauce or other liquids associated with the food items located onthe serving platter 112 to drain into the receptacle platter 114.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the receptacle platter 114 of the trayassembly 100 of FIG. 5. Unlike the receptacle platter 14 of FIG. 3, thisreceptacle platter 114 includes a generally planar central area 144 inthe bottom 124 thereof. It is contemplated that this embodiment of thetray assembly 100 will generally not be stacked, therefore, indentationsare not present in the receptacle platter 114. In addition, the planarcentral area 144 may lend itself to easier washing for multiple uses.The peripheral wall 126 includes a rim 146 and a support shelf 148adjacent the rim 146. The support shelf 148 extends a slight distanceoutwardly from the peripheral wall 126. The support shelf 148 includes aseparation tab 150. The support shelf 148 provides a support locationfor the lip 134 of the serving platter 112, thereby making the coupledtray assembly 100 more sturdy and secure.

In this embodiment, the serving platter 112 and receptacle platter 114are preferably durable and rigid and are formed in one or more moldingprocesses. The molding processes may include injection molding,rotational molding, and/or blow molding. It is further preferred thatthe serving platter and receptacle platter are injection moldedpolypropylene.

The durable, rigid serving platter 112 and receptacle platter 114 form atray assembly 100 that is preferably a washable embodiment of thepresent invention. Because of the sturdy construction, the tray assembly100 may be used multiple times with washings between uses. As such, thisembodiment may be preferred for commercial food service establishments,such as restaurants, to be used by dine-in customers.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of afood tray assembly 200 in the transport configuration; FIG. 9 is a sidecross-sectional view of the food tray assembly 200 of FIG. 8,illustrating the receptacle platter 202 being uncoupled from the servingplatter 216; and FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the food trayassembly 200 of FIG. 8, illustrating the receptacle platter 202 beingdisposed below the serving platter 216. Like previous embodiments, thefood tray assembly 200 of FIG. 8 includes a receptacle platter 202 and aserving platter 216. The receptacle platter 202 has a centrally disposedplatform 204 extending upwardly from a bottom 206 thereof when thereceptacle platter 202 is in its serving configuration (as shown in FIG.10). In this embodiment, a peripheral wall 208 of the receptacle platter202 is relatively deeper than the peripheral wall 26 of the receptacleplatter 14 of previous embodiments. The raised platform 204 is generallycircular and has a wall 210 having a depth less than the depth of theperipheral wall 208 of the receptacle platter 202. The central raisedplatform 204 of the receptacle platter 202 provides an additionalstabilizing structure for the food tray assembly 200 in the transportconfiguration. More particularly, the wall 210 of the central raisedplatform 204 is supported by a peripheral wall 212 of a central aperture214 of a serving platter 216 when the food tray assembly 200 is in thetransport configuration, as shown in FIG. 8. Such additional supportprovides a food tray assembly 200 that is relatively more stable duringtransport.

Similarly to the embodiments described herein above, the serving platter216 and receptacle platter 202 of the present embodiment may bereleasably coupled to one another in the transport configuration. Theserving platter 216 includes a raised portion 218 at a lip 220 thereofthat may be releasably coupled to a raised portion 222 of a lip 224 ofthe receptacle platter 202. The two raised portions 218,222 areconfigured to releasably couple to one another with a friction fit.

As noted previously, the food tray assembly 200 in FIG. 8 is in atransport configuration. In this configuration, the receptacle platter202 serves as a lid for the serving platter 216, such that food itemsdisposed on the serving platter 216 are covered and protected from theenvironment and from being spilled during transport.

When a user reaches the location where food disposed on the servingplatter 216 is to be eaten, the user will want to transition the foodtray assembly 200 from the transport configuration to a servingconfiguration. The serving platter 216 and receptacle platter 202 may bereleased from one another, as shown in FIG. 9, and then the receptacleplatter 202 flipped upside down and disposed below the serving platter216, as shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the food tray assembly of FIG.8 in the serving configuration. In the serving configuration, anunderside 226 of the serving platter 216 is in opposing facing relationwith an interior bottom surface 230 of the receptacle platter 202. Inthe serving configuration, a void space 228 is present between theunderside 226 of the serving platter 216 and the interior bottom surface230 of the receptacle platter 202.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the food tray assembly 200 in thetransport configuration with the receptacle platter 216 of an additionalfood tray assembly 200 in a transport orientation disposed there below.FIG. 12 provides an illustration of how more than one food tray assembly200 in a transport configuration would stack for transport. Indentations232 in the bottom 206 of the receptacle platter 202 provide astabilizing structure when multiple tray assemblies 200 are stacked fortransport. When two or more food tray assemblies 200 are placed intotheir transport configuration and stacked on top of each other, theindentations 232 of the receptacle platter 202 of the lower trayassembly 200 engage the underside 226 of the serving platter 216 of theupper tray assembly 200, and more specifically, the underside of radialchannels 234 of the serving platter 216. As such, carrying multiple trayassemblies 200 in the transport configuration is more stable than if thereceptacle platter 202 did not include indentations 232. In addition,and as mentioned previously, the central raised platform 204 of thereceptacle platter 202 provides a further stabilizing structure for thefood tray assembly 200 in the transport configuration, particularly whenmultiple tray assemblies 200 are stacked for transport.

FIG. 13 is a perspective fragmentary view of the serving platter 216 ofthe food tray assembly 200. The serving platter 216 is very similar tothe serving platter 12 of the food tray assembly 10 of previousembodiments. However, it is contemplated that the serving platter 216 ofthis embodiment would include radial channels 234 capable ofaccommodating more than one individual item of food, e.g., more than onechicken wing. For a serving platter 216 displaying chicken wings, it ispreferred that each radial channel 234 be able to accommodate twochicken wings. Accordingly, a serving platter 216 having twelve radialchannels 234 would be able to accommodate twenty four chicken wings.

FIG. 14 is a perspective fragmentary view of the food tray assembly 200of FIG. 8. As is illustrated in FIG. 14, the central aperture 214 of theserving platter 216 is covered by the central raised platform 204 of thereceptacle platter 202 when the food tray assembly 200 is in thetransport configuration. As such, the central raised platform 204provides a sealing surface prohibiting environmental contaminants fromcontacting food items arranged on the serving platter 216 duringtransport. The raised central platform 204 assists in ensuring that foodbeing transported by the food tray assembly 200 is completely sealed offfrom the environment.

It is anticipated that the tray assembly 200 is preferably a disposabletray assembly. Similarly to the disposable tray assembly discussedabove, the serving platter 216 and receptacle platter 202 may befabricated from a variety of thermoplastic materials. Examples includepolypropylene, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Theyare preferably fabricated of vacuum formed polypropylene. Vacuum forminglends itself to forming relatively flexible components, and thecomponents are well suited to being disposed of after a single use orlimited number of uses.

Multiple variations of the food tray assemblies 10,100, 200 are alsopossible without departing from the scope of the present invention. Forexample, a food tray assembly may be manufactured as a single, integralpiece rather than as two components. The serving platter may be formedor otherwise manufactured in novel shapes. One exemplary shape may be asteamboat, wherein the central aperture is contained within thesmokestack of the steamboat. Another exemplary shape may be a volcanowherein the central aperture is the mouth of the volcano.

Each of the various tray assemblies of the present invention provides aconvenient place to discard food waste at a dining area while the foodis being eaten. The receptacle platter conveniently contains the foodwaste and keeps it out of sight of a user while he is eating. Once aperson has finished eating, the entire tray assembly may be easilyremoved from the dining area. Further, the food waste may be easilydisposed of in a traditional trash receptacle without the user having tocome into contact with the food waste. Furthermore, disposableembodiments of the tray assembly provide a sealing lid that enablestransport of food items from one location to another. In suchembodiments, the receptacle platter conveniently serves as a lid for thetray assembly during transport and then as a holder for collecting foodwaste while the food is being eaten.

Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood bythose persons skilled in the art that the present invention issusceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments andadaptations of the present invention other than those specificallydescribed herein, as well as many variations, modifications, andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the present invention.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein indetail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to beunderstood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary ofthe present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing afull and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosureis not intended to be construed to limit the present invention orotherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations,modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention beinglimited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

VII. DISCLOSURE OF INCORPORATED PATENT APPLICATION 60/596,367

Several preferred embodiments of the serving tray in accordance with thepresent invention are illustrated in FIGS. 15-24. The illustratedembodiments of the serving tray each includes a pan and removable lid.Each of these serving trays is intended to present items of food and,preferably, finger food, such as appetizers and the like. Such food mayinclude poultry items such as chicken or “buffalo” wings, “tail-on”shrimp, and shellfish. Such food items also may include meatballs andolives to the extent that the meatballs and olives toothpicks and thelike, which are left over after consumption of the food item. Indeed,the serving tray is particularly useful for any finger food that createsits own waste, whether naturally or otherwise.

The two components of the serving tray, i.e., the lid and the pan,preferably are formed in thermoforming manufacturing processes or inejection molding processes. The lid preferably is contoured and includeswells or troughs in which the food items are received. Preferably, a lidincludes fifteen troughs, although more or less may be provided in thelid as desired. Each well preferably includes a span of approximatelyone inch at the top and two inches at the bottom when the serving trayis to accommodate chicken wings.

The lid preferably snaps or otherwise attaches to the pan in the area ofthe rim thereof in a friction fit. Furthermore, in a related feature,the lid preferably includes a separation tab to facilitate separation ofthe lid and the pan.

The pan and lid each preferably are designed for nesting in similar pansand lids. The nesting allowance preferably is about a quarter of aninch.

The lid also includes an opening and, as shown in the drawings, a centeropening. The center opening in the lid of the serving tray preferably isabout two and one-half inches in diameter.

In a feature (not shown in FIGS. 15-24), a cup of sauce or dip isdimensioned to removably fit within the center opening for carriage ofthe serving tray. The cup then can be removed for dipping of food itemsand for access to the center opening for disposal of the resultingwaste.

In another feature, a annular container is dimensioned to fit on top ofthe perimeter of the center opening of the lid without obstructing thecenter opening. The annular container includes a circular recessed areafor dip or sauce and may be partitioned for holding various dips orsauces.

The pan preferably includes a dome-shaped bottom such that any wastematerial that is received through the opening in the lid will movetoward the perimeter of the pan and a waste pile will not form in thecenter. Distribution of the waste toward the perimeter of the pan willtend to avoid any piling of the waste in the center of the pan. Suchdistribution further tends to evenly balance the weight of the servingtray when carried after use.

The serving tray may be permanent or disposable. When disposable, thelid of the serving tray may be manufactured in a pulp molding process orin some other inexpensive manufacturing process. Pulp molding productsare well known and include audio speaker cones and egg cartons. Pulpmolding further enables low cost, three-dimensional branding as a resultof the ability to selectively raise portions of the surface during thepulp molding.

In another embodiment of the serving tray shown in FIGS. 22-24, the panserves the additional function of being a cover for the food itemscarried by and presented on the lid prior to consumption. In thisregard, the pan is inverted and is removably attachable to the lid fortransportation such as in “carry out” or delivery scenarios. In this,the lid preferably includes a transparent material that forms the bottomof the serving tray in the “serving” position and a top of the servingtray when in the “carry out” or “delivery” position covering the fooditems carried on and presented by the lid. The side wall of the lid, incontrast, preferably is not transparent, whereby waste is not visiblewhen the serving tray is in the “serving” position.

In variations of the serving tray of the present invention, the servingtray may be manufactured as a single, integral piece rather than as twocomponents. The lid further may include novel shapes, such as asteamboat, wherein the disposal openings are contained within thesmokestack of the steamboat. Another novel shape comprises that of avolcano wherein the disposal opening comprises the mouth of the volcano.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. A serving tray assembly, comprising: (a) a containerincluding first and second components, (i) the first component definingan interior space for receiving waste, and (ii) the second componenthaving, (A) an exterior surface defining a serving area that isconfigured to receive and retain food for presentation to a person foreating, and (B) a disposal opening configured to receive there throughwaste for disposal; (b) wherein the first and second components areconfigured to be releasably coupled together in multiple configurationsincluding, (i) a transport configuration, in which the first componentcovers the serving area of the second component for protecting, duringtransport, food that is received upon the serving area, and (ii) aserving configuration, in which the second component covers the interiorspace of the first component such that waste received through thedisposal opening is received within the interior space of the firstcomponent.
 4. The serving tray assembly of claim 3, wherein the firstcomponent blocks access through the disposal opening when the first andsecond components are releasably coupled together in the transportconfiguration.
 5. The serving tray assembly of claim 3, wherein aportion of the first component is transparent so that food carried inthe serving area may be viewed through the second component duringtransport.
 6. The serving tray assembly of claim 5, wherein neither thesecond component nor a side wall of the first component is transparentwhereby the waste received within the interior space is concealed fromview when the first and second components are in the servingconfiguration.
 7. The serving tray assembly of claim 3, wherein thefirst component releasably couples with the second component via africtional fit.
 8. The serving tray assembly of claim 3, wherein thesecond component comprises a wall rising above the serving area, a rimportion of the wall defining the disposal opening.
 9. The serving trayof claim 3, wherein the exterior surface is configured to receive andretain a plurality of bone-in chicken wings, wherein the disposalopening is configured to receive there through discarded bones of thechicken wings, and wherein the interior space is configured to receiveall of the discarded bones of the chicken wings received through thedisposal opening.
 10. The serving tray of claim 3, wherein the disposalopening is centrally located relative to the serving area and whereinthe serving area is symmetrical relative to the disposal opening. 11.The serving tray of claim 3, wherein the exterior surface comprises acontoured surface for receiving and retaining food for presentation to aperson for eating.
 12. The serving tray of claim 11, wherein thecontoured surface defines four wells each for receiving food therein.13. The serving tray of claim 11, wherein the contoured surface definesa plurality of channels radially extending from the disposal opening.14. The serving tray of claim 3, wherein a portion of the exteriorsurface slopes at an incline along a radial direction from a center ofthe serving area toward a perimeter of the serving area forpresentation, of food to a person for eating.
 15. The serving tray ofclaim 3, wherein a floor of the interior space of the container includesa centrally-located, generally dome-shaped area
 16. The serving tray ofclaim 3, wherein a floor of the interior space of the container includesa centrally-located raised platform.
 17. A serving tray assembly,comprising: (a) a first component defining a containment space; and (b)a second component including both, (i) a serving area configured toreceive and retain food for presentation to a person for eating, and(ii) a disposal opening configured to receive waste there through, (c)wherein the first and second components are configured to be releasablycoupled together in multiple configurations including, (i) a transportconfiguration, in which the serving area of the second component iscovered by the first component for protecting, during transport, foodthat is received upon the serving area, and (ii) a servingconfiguration, in which the second component covers and substantiallyencloses the containment space of the first component such that wastereceived through the disposal opening of the second component isreceived within the containment space of the first component.
 18. Theserving tray assembly of claim 17, wherein the first component blocksaccess through the disposal opening when the first and second componentsare releasably coupled together in the transport configuration.
 19. Theserving tray assembly of claim 17, wherein a portion of the firstcomponent is transparent so that food carried in the serving area may beviewed through the second component during transport, and whereinneither the second component nor a side wall of the first component istransparent whereby the waste received within the containment spaceconcealed from view when the first and second components are in theserving configuration.
 20. A serving tray assembly, comprising: (a) aserving platter having, (i) on a top side thereof, a serving areacomprising a surface contoured to receive and retain food thereon, and(ii) a disposal opening configured to receive waste there through; and(b) a receptacle platter defining a containment space; (c) wherein theserving platter and the receptacle platter are configured to bereleasably coupled together in a first configuration such that, (i) thereceptacle platter covers a bottom side of the serving platter, and (ii)the disposal opening of the serving platter is configured to receivethere through waste for receipt into the containment space of thereceptacle platter; and (d) wherein the serving platter and thereceptacle platter are configured to be releasably coupled together in asecond configuration such that the receptacle platter covers the topside of the serving platter for protecting, during transport of theserving tray, food that is carried on the serving area.
 21. The servingtray assembly of claim 20, wherein the receptacle platter blocks accessthrough the disposal opening when the serving platter and receptacleplatter are releasably coupled together in the second configuration. 22.The serving tray assembly of claim 20, wherein a portion of thereceptacle platter is transparent so that food carried on the servingarea may be viewed through the serving platter during transport, andwherein neither the serving platter nor a side wall of the receptacleplatter is transparent whereby the waste received within the containmentspace is concealed from view when the receptacle and serving platter arein the serving configuration.
 23. A serving tray assembly, comprising:(a) a lid having a serving area comprising a surface contoured toreceive and retain food thereon and a disposal opening configured toreceive waste there through; and (b) a pan defining a containment space;(c) wherein the lid and pan are configured to be separated from oneanother such that waste received within the containment space of the panmay be discarded from the pan; (d) wherein the lid is configured toreleasably attach to the pan in covering relation to the containmentspace such that waste received through the disposal opening of the lidis received into the containment space of the pan when food is beingserved from the serving area; and (e) wherein the pan is configured toreleasably attach to the lid such that the pan covers the serving areaof the lid during transport of the serving tray assembly.
 24. Theserving tray assembly of claim 23, wherein the pan blocks access throughthe disposal opening when the pan is releasably attached to the lid incovering relation to the serving area thereof.
 25. The serving trayassembly of claim 23, wherein a bottom of the pan is transparent so thatfood carried in the serving area of the lid may be viewed through thepan during transport, and wherein neither the lid nor a side wall of thepan is transparent whereby waste received within the containment spaceof the pan is concealed from view when the lid is releasably attached tothe pan for food service.
 26. The serving tray assembly of claim 23,wherein the lid comprises a wall rising above the serving area, a rimportion of the wall defining the disposal opening.
 27. The serving trayof claim 26, wherein the disposal opening is centrally located relativeto the serving area and wherein the serving area is symmetrical relativeto the disposal opening.